Final Stats

THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University football team surrendered 451 yards of offense and was shutout for the first time this season as No. 9 Sam Houston State cruised to a 41-0 victory on Saturday night at John L. Guidry Stadium.

The loss drops the Colonels to 1-4 on the season and 0-2 in the Southland play. With the win, the Bearkats (4-2, 2-1) have won the last seven against the Colonels and pick up their first shutout in the series, improving to 17-10-1.

The Colonels finished with 258 yards on offense, but with the absence of starting tailback Marcus Washington, were held to 20 yards on the ground. While senior Jesse Turner was limited to 34 yards on 19 carries, the Houma native led all receivers with 90 yards on six catches. Senior Aldaro Russell also chipped in with 52 yards on two receptions.

Nicholls had chances to score early, but were unable to capitalize against the defending conference champions. With no score in the first, Turner reeled off a 48-yard reception to fuel a 10-play drive that put the Colonels in the Bearkat red zone. However, the kicking woes continued from last week as Andrew Dolan missed a 32-yarder with three minutes left in the quarter.

Sam Houston answered with a touchdown drive, scoring on Tim Flander's first of three touchdowns on the night. Flanders, the Southland's leading rusher, had 67 of the Bearkat's 261 yards on the ground.

The Colonels caught a break in the second quarter when Flanders coughed up the football, but two players later, Nicholls gave it right back on a fumble by Andrew Wynn at midfield. Sam Houston then made the score 14-0 before the break on a 5-yard touchdown pass by Brian Bell to Melvis Pride.

In the third, Sam Houston quickly extended the lead to 28-0 as Flanders tacked on his final two scores. Following the Colonels' second punt of the half, the Bearkats added another touchdown at the end of the quarter.

In the fourth, Sam Houston scored its final TD on a 7-play, 51-yard drive to make the final 41-0.

For the Colonels, junior quarterback Landry Klann completed 20 of 39 passes, throwing for 238 yards and was sacked four times. Klann did have a touchdown pass to Brad Nelson late in the game, but it was wiped out on a penalty. On defense, B.J. Lewis and T.J. Lumar paced the Colonels with seven tackles each.

Nicholls will try to snap its nine-game conference losing streak as the Colonels head to Texas to face Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 20. The game will be broadcast on the Southland Conference Television Network, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.